The Town of Teulon held a public hearing to consider a proposal to borrow $600,000 towards a new fire pumper truck for the Teulon Rockwood Fire Department.
The hearing took place in the council chamber on Oct. 14.
“The Town of Teulon is seeking funding to purchase a new fire truck and modern pumping equipment to replace aging and unreliable units. The primary pumping unit currently in service is 26 years old. Replacing this unit is critical to ensuring the safety and reliability of our fire response system,” said CAO Chris Yuen.
“This investment will strengthen firefighting capacity in both the town and surrounding rural areas; improve emergency response times and reliability; provide firefighters with safer, more efficient equipment that meets modern standards; and enhance protection for residents, businesses and critical community infrastructure.”
The total estimated cost of the fire pumper is $1.5 million, with $750,000 funded by the RM of Rockwood and $750,000 from the Town of Teulon. In addition to the proposed $600,000 borrowing, the Town of Teulon would pay for the remaining $150,000 from the fire equipment replacement reserve fund.
The borrowing would be repaid over 20 years at a proposed rate of 7.5 per cent per year. The annual repayment amount would not be more than $58,855.31 to be levied by special mill rate annually.
First reading of the bylaw took place at the regular council meeting after the public hearing.
Copies of the proposal are available at the town office.
In other council news:
• Council will provide a letter of support to Madeline’s Closet, which is an Inwood-based registered charity that serves the Interlake by providing new clothing at no cost. Yuen said council provided the letter to acknowledge the work they do for the communities and assist in grant opportunities.
• Council appointed Anna Padzierski as the citizen representative for the South Interlake Regional Library. The previous citizen representative, June Leduchowski, resigned from the role.
• Council approved a $265 quote from Interlake Electric to supply and install a dehumidistat to operate an exhaust fan at the Teulon Curling Rink.
• The Town of Teulon will buy a smart TV to replace the existing unit for the Teulon Rockwood Centennial Centre at a cost of up to $1,000 before tax.
• Yard waste will be collected on Oct. 17, including leaves, grass clippings, garden vegetation and straw.
• The board of revision will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers.
